By Dave Donnelly

Friday, April 27, 2001

New Luce introduces
the sluice juice

IT was to be a dry run at the new Luce Pavilion Complex designed by John Hara for the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Everything was going swimmingly with the Jun Kaneko sculptures looking quite dramatic against the tall white columns and grand staircase of the new Henry R. Luce Wing. Guests had munched on the poached salmon and soba noodles prepared by Chef Mike Nevin in the new teak-doored Garden Cafe. A Japanese musician performed with the sound of the 60-foot-wide waterfall trickling in the background. Did I say dry run? Not quite. When Academy Director George Ellis took the podium to speak, the waterfall came to an abrupt halt, followed at once by the sprinklers coming to life, and wetting down a few guests standing too close to the newly landscaped areas in the Pavilion. An off-duty staff member had to be called in to correct the situation.What was billed as a reception of the Sogetsu Hawaii bamboo installation brought out the wags. Asked one, "Did they say Sogetsu or So-Wet-Su?" Another replied, "Oh, I think it wet all right." What did you expect -- stuffed shirts?"...

THE word is getting out to Maui visitors that "Ulalena," the dramatic story of the creation of the islands, in the Maui Myth and Magic Theatre in Lahaina, is well worth a visit. Not only did Richard Moll (Bull on "Night Court") show up recently, but so, too, did Helen Hunt and Kelsey Grammer -- separately!...

Familiar ring to it

HE'S been gone from the islands for the past two years after leaving his post as regional V.P. for GST-Hawaii, and now that he's back, Rob Volker is feeling right at home. As well he should. He's now heading up a new telecom and Internet company that was formed when GST's Hawaii assets were acquired earlier this year. Now Volker is back in the same Bishop Street office and even has the same telephone extension he had two years ago.

ALOHA Tower celebrates its 75th anniversary tomorrow and what better way to get TV coverage of the event than have representatives of two stations be co-emcees. But just to make sure the emcees are compatible, organizers chose KHNL's Guy Hagi and KGMB's Kim Gennaula, who just happen to be married. To each other! The commemoration gets underway at 4 p.m. at the base of Aloha Tower ... Speaking of aloha, in the current issues of Time and People magazine, Kevin Costner is pictured with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. And while Fidel is wearing his trademark fatigues, Costner is decked out in a Tori Richard shirt...

Bid hello

THE auction being held in conjunction with the Honolulu Symphony Ball is bidding to be different. While the gala fund-raiser isn't until May 26, you can bid right now on eBay. Visit the Ball's Internet web page (www.honolulusymphonyball.com) and you can then see the items to be auctioned, bids already received, and make your own. There'll also be a live auction at the ball to bid on such items as first-class travel for two around the world on United or a fully loaded Mazda Miata. How'd they score that? Auction co-chair Julie Hassel Stanford put the arm on husband Ken, G.M. of JN Mazda.

Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.